DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ALL ITS VARIOUS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES. 



THE PROSPECT FOR FRUIT. 



Apples. — Many of our readers have seen in the 

 American Fruit Book, or in journals which we have 

 conducted, our views as to the bearing year of apples ; 

 that in even years we have large crops of apples, if 

 the season be favorable ; that we never have a large 

 crop in odd years, let the season be never so auspi- 

 cious. According to this proposition, founded on 

 experience and observation for more than thirty 

 years, this is a season for a small crop, or only a 

 medial crop, if the season be favorable, and appear- 

 ances as to the blossoming of the trees and setting 

 of fruit support this position. 



Pears. — According to present appearances, the 

 crop of pears will be very light, particularly of the 

 Bartlett, which is cultivated far more extensively 

 than any other kind, and in some sections more than 

 all other kinds. In many cases, no blossom buds 

 had formed on the pear, and in others, the buds or 

 blossoqis have been killed by unfavorable weather. 

 Some cultivators, who have paid great attention to 

 this fruit, find that nearly all their trees have failed. 

 The pear, particularly the fine kinds, is very uncer- 

 tain. It is often destroyed by cold winters and hot 

 summers ; and it frequently suffers from a location 

 in either extreme of wet or drought. 



Plums. — We have heard but little of these, and 

 our observ-ations have not been extensive. From 

 what we have seen, the crop Avill be light. 



Cherries. — Present appearances indicate a large 

 crop. 



Quinces. — These are promising. 



Peaches. — In some cases, there will be a total fail- 

 ure, mostly on low lands, or on fiat lands slightly 

 elevated. On well-elevated and high lands, the pros- 

 pect is very good. The crop will be a mean between 

 these wide extremes — probably about middling. 

 Natural or seedling trees are more prosperous than 

 budded trees. 



Strawberries. — The plants have endured the 

 winter well, and the season is very favorable. We 

 have a good supply of moisture ; and as they are be- 

 ginning to ripen, (June 13,) the early kinds will not 

 be liable to injury from drought, which sometimes 



cuts off the crop on light lands. A very few raised 

 in this vicinity are in the market, and sell pretty 

 well. From New York there is a very large supply ; 

 sales dull and prices low. 



Currants and Gooseberries look well. 



STIRRING THE EARTH. 



In frequently stirring the earth, there are several 

 and important advantages. It loosens the soil, and 

 makes it permeable to the roots of plants. It finely 

 pulverizes the soil, reducing the sods and clods, and 

 mixes the different kinds or layers of soil turned up 

 by the plough together, and mixes the manure finely 

 with the soil. We have ploughed greensward for 

 immediate sowing with fine seeds, and by manuring, 

 and the frequent use of the harrow and cultivator, 

 we have made it of fine tilth, and well adapted to 

 tender plants, like old, mellow soil. 



By stirring the soil often, so as to present new 

 surface to the air, it becomes enriched by elements 

 imbibed from the atmosphere. But if the earth is 

 allowed to rest, a crust is formed at the top, and no 

 improvement of consequence takes place in this way. 

 Hence, in ploughing or cultivating land often, in 

 order to kill witch or couch grass, sorrel, or other 

 noxious plants, the soil becomes improved by the 

 means used to eradicate the weeds with which it is 

 infested ; so that the whole labor is not spent 

 merely to destroy the cumberers of the ground. 

 The soil that is turned up in deep ploughing, or 

 that works up moderately in subsoil ploughing, be- 

 comes greatly improved on exposure to the atmos- 

 phere, and frequent stirring. 



By stirring the soil, weeds are destroyed in their 

 tender age, before they become large, to rob tha 

 plants of nutriment, or require a great deal of labor 

 to destroy them. If the farmer can keep ahead of his 

 work so as to stir his tillage lands often, just as the 

 weeds have started, he will save a great deal of labor, 

 besides gaining an advantage in having his land in 

 the best condition in other respects for a good crop. 

 Some writer says, in regard to manuring, " Feed your 

 crop, and your crop will feed you ; " and it may. 



